The Reportable Conduct Scheme in Western Australia is a system that aims to make children safer. It requires heads of organizations, including universities, that exercise care, supervision, or authority over children to notify the WA Ombudsman of allegations of, or convictions for, child abuse by their employees.
The University Values and Staff Code of Conduct are indicative of the importance the University places on ethical behaviour. The University does not tolerate improper conduct and is committed to the aims and objectives of the Reportable Conduct Scheme which includes measures to help prevent child abuse and improve the systems and processes for preventing and dealing with complaints and reports of child abuse.
The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires of the University to notify the WA Ombudsman of ‘reportable allegations’ and ‘reportable convictions.
A reportable allegation is any information that leads a person to form a belief on reasonable grounds that an employee has engaged in reportable conduct, whether or not the conduct is alleged to have occurred in the course of the employee’s employment.
Reportable Conduct
The following types of conduct are deemed to be ‘reportable conduct’:
A reportable conviction is, in summary, a conviction for an offence of a sexual nature committed against, with, or in the presence of a child.
Staff and third parties may report allegations of suspected reportable conduct or reportable convictions involving ECU staff to the University using the Reportable Conduct Scheme Report form. Third parties may, if they prefer, report matters directly to the WA Ombudsman. Staff and third parties may report allegations relating to alleged reportable conduct or reportable convictions involving the Vice-Chancellor directly to the WA Ombudsman.
Staff and third parties may email integrity@ecu.edu.au for advice and guidance or consult the WA Ombudsman webpage for further information.